WORLD : Delay Visit, King Michael Asked
The government of Romania, citing the threat of demonstrations, asked ex-King Michael today to postpone his first visit since he was dethroned in 1947.
But a Bucharest aide to the 68-year-old former monarch said he still plans to arrive from his home in Switzerland as scheduled Thursday.
“For the moment, the king is not giving up his visit,” the aide said after the ex-monarch’s advance party told him by telephone that the government had asked him to stay away until after elections May 20.
“He still intends to come,” the aide said. “Officially, he thanks the government for its concern and he feels he has no reason not to come.”
Ex-King Michael will be the first monarch deposed by Communists in Eastern Europe after World War II to return to his homeland since Communist rule began to crumble last year.
The interim government made its appeal after several opposition politicians said the former king’s visit might spark demonstrations and inflame election passions.
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